<p>I am a high school senior currently deciding on which college to enroll into. I’m strongly wanting to pursue medicine as my career and want to do what’s best for leading into medical school. Yet I’ve worked very hard in high school and have always dreamed of attending a premier institution that will allow me to step into a different environment (intellectual, resourceful, just different) than the one I’ve been raised in. </p>
<p>I’ve been offered two categories of schools/programs: </p>
<p>I was accepted to the basic, undergraduate school of some public/private universities across the country, including Duke, Vanderbilt, UC-Berkeley, and Michigan. I was also wait-listed at 7 schools, including Princeton, Rice, and Northwestern. Though financial rewards have not been released for all schools, these colleges are costing me roughly between $47,000 to $60,000 a year. </p>
<p>I was also recently accepted to a state school’s Combined BA/MD Program that (1) offers a guaranteed seat into the university’s medical school after 4 years and (2) pays for all undergraduate costs (tuition, housing, meals, student fees, textbooks, personal and travel expenses etc.).</p>
<p>I’m confused. I really don’t want to pay a quarter-million dollars for a name-brand education that will not even guarantee me a spot in medical school like the BA/MD program will. But people have always said that the guarantee won’t matter because schools like Duke offer a vast community and number of resources that serve the same purpose. </p>
<p>What do you think I should do? Is there a way to negotiate with these schools to bring costs down significantly? At this point, the practical side of me is blaring to choose this BA/MD program.</p>
<p>State school is a complete nobrainer. Are you really confused about that? Is all about the money. </p>
<p>Money. However I’m from Cali so I wouldn’t go anywhere. Also I know many people who have moved to the state they wanna go to university in and enroll on a CC for the first 2 years to gain instate tuition. </p>
<p>Your goal is becoming a doctor so it’s not just about the money. The guaranteed admission to medical school makes that choice the best by far.</p>
<p>So let’s compare:</p>
<p>(1) Money - state school wins!
(2) Med school admission - state school wins!</p>
<p>But, on the flip side:</p>
<p>(3) opportunity to prep for and take the MCAT - prestige school wins!
(4) privilege of going into debt before you even start paying for med school - prestige school wins!</p>
<p>It’s your choice, of course. But if you opt for the prestige school, let me just say right now that you are not the person I want making life or death decisions about my health care!</p>
<p>although I will say given the money factor, the BA/MD seems like a no brainer to me - unless you would actually prefer the other schools in the general sense, not just because of their prestige especially if there is any chance you won’t pursue medicine.</p>
<p>I will based my advice stritly on my D’s experience. D. did NOT apply to any UG “regular route”, she applied ONLY to bs/md programs and got accepted to 3, all in-state and one with full tuition Merit award. This one was also non-accelerated (4 + 4) and in addition allowed her to apply out while retaining her spot in the bs/md program Med. School. d. had the best years in UG possible, that went well beyond our expectations. Being in the bs/md program provided a great peace of mind, she was relaxed, much less stress about future Med. School application. Since program was non-accelerated, her UG experience was in no way different than “regular route” pre-meds around her, but much less stressful. She had 2 minors, wa in sorority, in her sport (freshman year), did all of her medical ECs during school year. Her bs/md required MCAT, but a very low score of 27. because it was so low, D. was able to be very calm during exam which resulted in her getting 35. She was the only one who applied out of her program. I do not know how many were in the program at the end, they origianlly accepted 10 freshman and their normal “survival” rate was about 50%, so maybe they had only 5 students. D. applied to 7 additional Med. Schools, got rejected form one, ingnored at 1, waitlisted at 2 and accepted at 3 additional Med. Schools, 2 in top 25. She had hard time deciding between these 2 and finally went to the one that happened to be her “dream” Med. School way back in HS (where she had applied to combined program originally but was rejected pre-interview). Currently she is finishing her 3rd year and so far is very satisfied with both her UG and Medical School experiences.
All of the above is very personal and specific to 2 insitutions - D’s UG and D’s Med. School. Keep in mind that NOBODY can tell you what is the best for YOU specifically, you are the only one who can assess your situation. The only thing we can do is to share our experiences. Keep in mind also, that NOT paying for your UG is a huge positive factor that might enable you to negotiate with your family about financing of your Medical School. In fact, we were very proud of D’s very smartl decision choosing the free option for the UG, we have decided to cover her Med. School tuition and other expenses.<br>
As a reference D graduted #1 from private HS and also received the top pre-med award at UG graduation.
Working hard will pay off no matter what you choose. Having peace of mind will make it easier to get the best positive outcome from your hard work.</p>
<p>I aspire to be a doctor one day and currently a high school senior residing in Cleveland area. I have been accepted to OSU and will most likely receive the Eminence scholarship which covers my college expenses (tuition + room + board). I have also been accepted into the 6 year medical program at NeoMed. I am having an extremely difficult time deciding between the two and would appreciate it if someone can advise and / or provide their perspective and the logic of what you would do in my situation.</p>
<p>My thinking so far …</p>
<p>Neomed pros: Graduate 2 years earlier so earning 2 years earlier, don’t have to score as high on MCAT, don’t have to worry about getting into medical school, close to home (as opposed to ending up at a medical school half way across the country)</p>
<p>Neomed con: There is no break from studying since school starts after HS graduation, and you go to school during summers too, Akron / Kent / Youngstown are tier 2 school not tier 1 (can get stressed out/exhausted), Undergrad (first 2 years) will end up costing me total of around $62K, whereas, OSU will be zero, not much opportunity to take diverse courses and be a more well rounded person, poorer placement during residency;</p>
<p>OSU pro: FREE and can use the money for med. school where very little scholarship is available, get summers off so will have change to travel, work, do internship/research, etc., can take diverse courses and be a more well rounded person, better social life and definitely more fun experience</p>
<p>OSU con: Will take 4 years instead of 2 years so will not be earning earlier, must perform very well and must score high on MCAT to get into good med. school, have to apply to med school (lot of work and stress), may not get into decent med. school and it may be far from Ohio,</p>
<p>@Good123School
</p>
<p>“Most likely”?? When and if you receive the scholarship, take it. </p>
<p>I’m letting the emotional side of me overcome the smart, practical, and analytical side of me…</p>
<p>I’m sure the in-state BA/MD program is the right choice for me.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of your insights/experiences with this. You all were of great help!</p>
<p>Good123,
My D. turned down NeoMed, but she also turned down OSU, so it is hard for me to advise you, except I can state her reasons:
-She did not like NeoMed because it is accelerated. However, during interviews (she went to all 3), we have met many families who had Neomed as #1 choice specifically because it ws accelerated. D. was looking forward to personal growth as well as academics. She felt that 2 cramped up years with no summers off was a bit too much for this goal. So, you need to ask yourself what do you want to get from your college experience.
-Both Neomed and OSU were much more expansive options in D’s case than the option that she choose
-D. was accepted to bs/md at Maimi (cancelled since then). She fell in love with Miami, seemed to be a perfect place for her, program was not accelerated and Miami gave her full tuition Merit scholarship. In addition, bs/md at Miami allowed to apply out while retaining your spot at Cinci Col. of Med. It was a winner all around for my D. She still think that she got the best possible UG experience there.
I do not know what my D. have chosen in your situation. She was really turned off by accelerated aspect of NeoMed, but it looks like that this is your preference.<br>
On other hand, D. did not mind to apply to Med. Schools. Again, she had very different experience than most. She had a spot at Cinci Col. of Med. As I said above, taking MCAT when you know that all you need is 27 is a very different story. The same is going to interviews when you are accepted at one place. Looks like she actually enjoyed it, checked out different schools, visited few new cities, compared students at different places. </p>